Sword Art Online: Side Stories

Star saw the sword drop. "I cant say I am like that, Mya. I am a strategist I do the best solution. Giving you a chance would ruin my beliefs. Sorry." She spoke as if she really didn't want to do so. It was in her nature to find the best route and apply it. She had to when being over run with fans. Her guards usually had to block them off as she escaped the paparazzi. She hated them more than anything. She wouldn't be caught dead doing anything around them. Just sit humble and find a way to escape.

Masaru had struck a deal with Masamune. This ticked Star off. He did not tell her of this idea. She wanted to atone for the past, not work with the man who created the guilt inside her. However, he began to charge her with Mya in her grips. She kicked Mya away and shot her bow with a powerful dagger. A rare one too. If it hit him, it would paralyze him instantly. After the shot, she began to guard. She couldn't tell if her were there to take her out, or there to pick up Mya and run. She didn't trust or like Masamune either way, which is why she fired on him regardless. "Come at me. I am ready for your blade."

 

Masaru gave a quick movement of his Menu opened with accuracy, flung one of Star's Daggers into Masmune's unguarded back, which seemed to have caught him surprise as he charged at him, using <<Sprint>> to his advantage and his sword glowed a light blue, indicating a skill as he used Sonic Leap to slice at his back and aim for the ribbon only to miss it, the unforeseen pincer attack worked quite well. even though it wasn't part of the plan and he turned his head towards Masamune.
"As much as you say having a PKer and a real-life killer as a ally, we can't be picky unless we want to clear this death trap, you can atone for your crime in the Real World." He said neutrally. "And we're not friends, I still haven't forgiven you for what you done that day, the thought of me working with you makes me wish I couldn't but I can't be picky, we aren't friends, buddies or anything, just two people who want out of this game, if you continue PKing, go ahead, someone will come and Jail you, I'd rather work with the Clearers or even party with a Beater if possible." he said with a sigh, he looked at the contacts asked to be added to his friend list, it was simple, all he had to do was click the Blue Circle to accept or press the Red Cross to refuse it.

"...I wish I didn't have to deal with him, I can still refuse even now but... the backlash from such a thing may turn this into a ugly brawl..." Masaru thought and took a few moments to consider the options, he did clearly state he'd rather work with Clearers or even Beaters, plus, could he really trust Masamune to watch his back and not PK him from behind to get rid of a nuisence? He listened to what his heart was telling him and moved his hand to the Menu, tapping the Red Cross, refusing the rquest.

"Sorry, but this...just doesn't feel right to me." he answered.

 

Kaito got the message Hayden had sent. He replied by saying 'Anything's fine.' Still, those two who'd walked past him did look shady. Especially with the orange cursor of above their heads.

 

Allowing one of Masaru's daggers to hit his back, he, however, blocked Star's well aimed throw. Something like that would've hurt a little more than normal. Edging away from Masaru as his attack missed, he pulled the small dagger from his back, tossing it aside. Had Masaru not missed, he still would've dodged...by the skin of his teeth. It was a good move...that he was willing to admit. "You use the pre-programed combos well...and you're not as half as stupid as I thought you were." Still...his rebellious streak wasn't over. "But...it would've been nice to have someone in my list of contacts who didn't want to kill me. You never know when you'll need someone skilled in a few unsavory things." Or in my case...someone who doesn't wish me dead to get me the hell out of here. A smile graced his lips for a moment before he turned a much softer expression towards Mya. "Mya...you wanted to know why I'd form a group like Laughing Coffin. Even if it's a PK guild...filled with people who don't wish to spend any time at all with each other..." Hesitation...or rather uncertainty made him pause. "I did it because...even stuck in this game...I want to make the most of the time I have left. Masaru believes I'll get what's coming to me in the real world...but I already have. I can feel it. If...if it's true...and we really do die if we die here..." shaking his head, he grimaced, "I created the Laughing Coffin because I wanted to find others like me. You don't know me very well...but I'm not such a terrible person as you believe. And I'll regret this...but you remind me of someone I used to know...so I wanted to spend some time around you. But...there aren't others really like me..." Tapping his sword on his shoulder, he turned to the crowd. "So who do you really want to win?" Their screams filled the stadium.

Bending over the railing, the pair of PKs growled as they witnessed first hand Masamune's softness for those he was fighting. "Are you kidding me!? He LIKES her?! He's joking...right?" "I never would've imagined...Masamune...has a soft spot. Perfect."

 

Mya flipped back onto her feet and grabbed her sword into her hands. She then listened to Masamune about his whole background on what he had to say. Funny. That would be the last thing to think of when making a guild like that.The last part of what he had to say struck her hard, wide eyed at him. "Wh...what? D-did I just hear what I think I heard?" She shook her head in confusion. I'm not hearing things right! It sounded as if he just shared his feelings for me! Him!

 

"Grah!" Sioto yelled, slashing the wild pig that dared to come near. The pig exploded into blue-white flames like all the other creatures, and a small window, dictating what Sioto earned for that 'battle'. He sighed, seeing he had barely earned any XP, nor any money.
"At this rate...I won't be able to afford food." He groaned, sitting down. He sheathed his dual-sword, sighing as he did, "I'm just not cut-out for this kind of work." He muttered, looking about the grassy fields. He was still on the first level, only a 'mile' or so away from town.

I should be going up to the upper levels...I hear there's a tournament going on or something. Not that I'd join. Heh, they'd beat me easy. Sioto thought, smiling, Besides, no one seems to like me anyways. I'm best to just stay out here. I stay out of the way of everyone else...and...and... Sioto frowned, realizing the pointlessness behind just staying put while others sacrificed their lives, just for the chance of getting out of this game.

Eventually, Sioto stood up, looking back towards town. "Fine...let's see what else there is for me in this world."


(OOC: Hope that was good enough for a start!)

 

Rubbing his head, Masamune rolled his eyes. "Whatever you think I said...it probably isn't." Tightening his hold on his sword, he fell back on his higher stance. I have to end this...I have to end this now. Rushing towards Masaru, he slashed straight for his chest and curved his sword into an uppercut for Masaru's shoulder. He wasn't expecting to win...but looking for an opportunity.

 

While Hayden had been gone, Kaito's attention had been mostly on the fight. While he did occasionally glance at the two PK's he was more confused by what was going on in the arena. So when Hayden had asked what was going on, he replied by saying. "I don't really know, but it seems as there fighting again."

 

Star saw the events and was nearly unable to move. Was she afraid to die? He wasn't coming for her. Masamune was instead going for Masaru. Se couldn't see him die. Masamune was a PKer. One of the worst. She couldn't let him get to Masaru. She had to stop him from hitting her with his blade. Completely ignoring Mya, Star rushed to Masaru... A slice through flesh could be heard. A scream came from her mouth. She had taken the blow for Masaru. Her health gauge had now hit 35%. With his sword slicing her however, she was given the opportunity to cut a deep wound into Masamune. "I-I'm sorry Mas-" She passed out, falling back into Masaru.

 

Masaru was surprised at Star's selfless act and he grabbed ahold of her an dlaid her down on the ground, she was out for the count. "Idiot... if Ihe hit me, I would of given him back the damage..." He thought to himself and picked his sword up, it was all down to masamune and hismelf now and he held hsi sword tightly. "Let's finish this, no ribbons allowed, I'm sure everyoen wants a clean fight." He said and received a nod from his opponent and he charged forth, his sword colliding with Masamune's but witha quick movement, he opened the menu briefly with a free hand and tapped an icon, the Dream Eater sword vanishing in a flash of light as Masamune's sword was coming close to him as he ducked and his hand rematerialized a different sword, the one he wielded before he gained Dream Eater and it bypassed Masamune's defenses as he couldn't have time to react to block it now it was behind his weapon and sliced into his body as it most likely surprised him.

"Cruical spilt-second timing is needed for that to work, that what I trained out in the Front-lines, simultaneously opening the menu and attacking for the few seconds the system changes weapons, drawback is, the sword skills would still undergo a cooldown." He thought to himself.

 

Sioto walked silently through the grassy hills. To him, even knowing that the world wasn't 'real', the place was certainly beautiful. On several occasions,he would simply stop, and gaze out to the land before. Sioto would smile, hands on his hips, as he took in the scenery.
He didn't realize that on one occasion, people were watching; Wondering what in the world he was doing.

Even then, Sioto managed to reach the Town of Beginnings fairly quickly.
"Where's the Teleport Gate...?" He murmured, looking around. The Town was as usual. Plain, quaint, and mostly NPCs; with the occasional player walking about. Sioto sighed, leaning on a wall as he rubbed his temples, "Gah...I don't want to waste my time on finding some stupid Gate, when I easily do something far more productive.." He complained, glancing at the few Players that passed by.

 

Masamune didn't bother to even try to pretend like he was surprised by Masaru's maneuver. The closer his heath dipped to red, the more he smiled. His sword glowed an angry red color as he charged a skill he swore he wouldn't show until PoH had shown his hand first. "This is why I don't hang around kids like you....no respect...and you always...always, piss me off." Flipping his sword reverse, he shoved Masaru's shoulder and jumped, a much farther distance than he'd been doing before, away from the boy. "I really shouldn't let myself get carried away like this..." he mumbled to himself. Taking a deep breath, he smacked the hilt of his sword into his hand and the glow faded from his blade. Flicking open his menu, he equipped the typical black hooded cloak with the Laughing Coffin's symbol on it and gave a two fingered salute. "I forfeit. I didn't come here with the intention to win. A bit of prize money and some items or...whatever the prize is...it's nothin' I can't make for myself doing what I do best..." Drawing up the hood of his cloak, he sheathed his sword and headed for the exit. At least I learned something good today...Scarlet...Leader of an anti-PK guild....she's faster than I am. Good to know. But that boy...still has a long ways to go before he could really beat me. Especially with that skill in my arsenal. He paused and turned, tapping his head as if he'd forgotten something. "Mya...remember what I said before about after the tournament. A good...ten minutes is all I need...then you're free to wander about as if you never met me." Waving over his shoulder, he sauntered out of the arena as well as the two PKs that had been watching before. "So close..."

 

Masaru was surpsied at Masamune's proclaimation of forfeit but ti was probabaly for the best sicne PKer's were watching too and he had tokeep up appearances for the guild and he bent dow and opened his Item Menu and tipped hte contents down Star's throat, healing her HP bar and then had Mya drink a Cure Paraylsis potion to enabale her to move and gave a sigh, the tournament was over, he was hungry and still had that quest to do with Star, but since was a tournament... what was the prize?

"What a busy day... but we managed to get through this without anyone dying." he thought to himself as teh crowd were cheering at the team who won, no surprise there since it was better than a PKer winning it.

 

Mya thanked Masaru though what Masamune said angered her a lot. Damn him...why would he say that? He would tell me all of that and just leave? Pretend I never met him? No...I won't accept that as an answer...I'll find him after this. She walked over to Masaru and smiled."You guys were great. We never thought of a fight that would be that surprising." She then looked back at Star."You really care about her a lot don't you?"

 

Well, it was a forfeit so it didn't exactly end in the way she had hoped. But the crowd seemed happy enough that it wasn't the PKer that had won in the end and thus so was she.

Moving down to the arena with the winners she motioned for a guild member to come with with her. He opened up a trade menu with each of the winners and put in 100,000 Col for each of them and an item set which included crystals, several of each type. There were even a matching pair of belts that would add a sizable defense bonus.

"Congratulations on your victory here today," Scarlet started, "and I know you're a solo fighter but...if you're ever interested the guild is accepting to new members. And our guild will be happy to buy your armour any time."

 

Masamune rolled his shoulders as the pair from the stands moved to stand on either side of him. "I take it...you two aren't here to ask if I'm alright." Taking their silence as a yes, he lowered his head, "So...should I arm myself, or was your intention I'd be all sappy from losing a tournament?" "We know you're not the type. Let's just get this over with. Masamune Miketsukami, co-founder and co-leader of the Laughing Coffin!" Masamune flinched at the usage of his last name. "That name isn't apart of my username." "Doesn't matter." "You've allowed yourself to turn green...this is a clear violation of PoH's rules. As a guild leader, you of all people know how important the rules are." Sighing, he tapped a few things in his menu and a duel request popped up in front of the pair. "We're inside town so...if you guys want to eliminate me...you're going to have to click that nice little blue button there..." Slipping back into his role as both PKs clicked accept. As soon as their fingers dropped down on the little button, Masamune's sword slashed across one of their bodies and impaled the other against the wall. "Any more questions? Concerns?" The one impaled shook his head, feebly grabbing at his sword, "M-Masamune....please...my health bar..." Pushing more on the blade, he made a face as if to say 'what can you do'. "Death isn't so bad...is it? Especially for someone like you. In fact...it will be an improvement. ...Goodbye."

 

Star woke up shortly after being given the potion. Her hearing was off. She could only see a bright light with a slight blur around everywhere she looked. With a few seconds passing, cheers could be heard in the crowd. She shook her head to see the crowd cheering for her and Masaru. She thought this was a concert however. The fans wanted to hear Stargate sing her songs. She snapped her finger which apparently cued some music or something to play. How she isn't sure, nor would others be sure is my guess. She grabbed a mic and began to sing.

Her song was new. A song based on SAO, the MMO that has trapped them all. She was going to release it once the game was cleared. The lyrics rolled off her tongue. The tempo was upbeat. Each word had some significance to the challenges that were being overcame. The crowd was almost silent when hearing all this. The last words were sung. "SAO, Survive and Overcome... until our freedom has been won..."

She opened up her eyes to see that she was still in the collusion. A red blush came over her face as she saw Masaru and the crowd. Her secret was out. The Singing Bow Sword girl, The girl behind the band Stargate, Hikari Hoshi. She through down the mic which burst into pixels once it came in contact with the ground, and she ran out of the stadium out of sheer fear.